Tool for cutting solid materials

ABSTRACT

A tool for cutting solid materials including a carrier material ( 2 ), and at least one abrasive body ( 1 ) embedded in the carrier material, with the carrier material includes a binder selected from a group Mn+1AXn, where  
     M is an element selected from a group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf and Ta,  
     A is an element selected from a group consisting of Al, Si, P, S, Ga, Ge, As, Cd, In, Sn Tl and Pb, and  
     X is an element selected from a Group consisting of C and N.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a tool for cutting solidmaterials and having at least one abrasive body embedded in a carriermaterial.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] A cutting tool of the type described above is used, e.g., forcutting solid materials on constructional elements. The cutting tool hasat least one but, preferably, a plurality of abrasive bodies embedded,at least partially, into a carrier material. For cutting a solidmaterial on a constructional element one or several abrasive bodies,e.g., is (are) drivingly displaced relative to the constructionalelement. When the abrasive body(ies) come into contact with theconstructional element, the contact region of the solid material iscut-off.

[0005] German Publication DE 2 850 015A1 discloses a cutting tool with aplurality of abrasive bodies embedded in a carrier material. The carriermaterial consists essentially of tungsten, tungsten-cobalt alloy, and aportion of tungsten carbide.

[0006] German Publication DE 3 224 141 A1 discloses a cutting tool witha bolt-shaped carrier body. At its end facing in the operationaldirection of the tool, in particular when the tool is formed as a borer,the carrier body is provided with one or several abrasive body(ies)formed of a hard material and embedded in a carrier material, inparticular, tin.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,487 discloses a disc-shaped cutting tool witha plurality of abrasive bodies embedded in a metallic material. Theabrasive bodies are formed of diamond particles and are arranged overthe entire circumference of the cutting tool.

[0008] German Utility Model DE 8 331 514 U1 discloses a disc-shapedcutting tool, in particular, a grinding disc with a plurality ofabrasive bodies, in particular, diamond platelets.

[0009] German Publication DE 3 319 167 A1 discloses a cutting tool, inparticular, a rope saw with the carrier material formed of metal and theabrasive bodies formed of diamond chips.

[0010] The drawback of all of the known cutting tool consists in thatthe known carrier material can be used in a very limited range.Dependent on the degree of hardness of the cut solid material, thecarrier material can be either too hard or too weak, which leads to anunfavorable cutting power of the embedded in the carrier material,abrasive bodies. This is particularly observed in many application, whenthe temperature during the boring process substantially increases. Withthe increase of the temperature the carrier material weakens which canlead to a loss of the abrasive bodies during the cutting process or,alternatively, to a greater penetration of the abrasive bodies into thecarrier material.

[0011] A further drawback of known tools consists in that with the useof a metallic carrier material, in particular, materials containing ironor copper, a very high friction takes place between the carrier materialand the cut material. This is particular the case, when the cut solidmaterial also includes metallic components, in particular, reinforcingmetal.

[0012] A still further drawback of the known tools consists in that thebinding of the abrasive bodies with the carrier material is not alwayssufficient, resulting in insufficient cut power of the cutting tool.

[0013] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide acutting tool that can be economically produced and that would have ahigh cutting power independent from the surrounding conditions,in-particular, the temperature.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cuttingtool in which a reliable binding of the abrasive body(ies) with thecarrier material is insured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] These and other objects of the present invention, which willbecome apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing a cutting tool ofthe above-disclosed type in which the carrier material includes a binderselected from a group Mn+1AXn, where

[0016] M is an element selected from a group consisting of Sc, Ti, V,Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf and Ta,

[0017] A is an element select from a group consisting of Al, Si, P, S,Ga, Ge, As, Cd, In, Sn, Tl and Pb, and

[0018] X is an element selected from a group consisting of C and N.

[0019] Because the binder includes a ceramic component, the carriermaterial is suitable for use in a wide rage of high temperatures.Further, the carrier material is characterized by a low friction withthe metallic solid material. Therefore, the inventive cutting tools canbe used for treating hard materials having, metallic inclusions such as,e.g., a reinforced concrete, without a danger of the tool being jammed.The carrier material can be formed partially or entirely of the bindergroup. When the carrier material includes the binder only partially, theremaining portion of the carrier material can consist of metal or ametal alloy, in particular, of cobolt, bronze, or iron. The carriermaterial and one or several abrasive bodies can form, e.g., ameta-abrasive body. The carrier material or the meta-abrasive body canbe arranged on the carrier body.

[0020] Advantageously, the binder group is formed as Ti₃SiC₂ thatinsures an optimal cutting power.

[0021] The carrier material advantageously is arranged on a rotationallysymmetrical carrier body which insures an unbalance-free rotationalmovement of the tool. The use of a rotationally symmetrical carrier bodyis particular advantageous when the inventive cutting tool is used witha hand-held power tool. The use of the rotationally symmetrical carrierbody insures a rotational movement of one or several abrasive bodies,which are embedded in a carrier material arranged on the carrier body,about the rotational axis of the carrier body. Preferably, therotational axis of the carrier body extends parallel to the operationaldirection of the tool.

[0022] When the tool is formed as an annual bit or the like, the carrierbody is formed as a sleeve-shaped body.

[0023] When the tool is to be used as a borer, the carrier body isformed as a bolt-shaped body.

[0024] To enable treatment of large planar surfaces of the solidmaterial, the carrier body is formed, preferably, as a disc-shaped body.

[0025] Advantageously, the abrasive bodies are formed of diamondparticles, which insures an increased hardness of the abrasive bodies.The abrasive bodies can also be advantageously formed of hard metalparticles, boron in nitride particles, or polycrystalline diamond(PC₂).The formation of the abrasive bodies of such particles insure aneconomical manufacturing of the inventive cutting tool.

[0026] Advantageously, the carrier material consists of from 50% byvolume to 100% by volume of the binder group Mn+1AXn. Such carriermaterial insures a high cutting power independent from the temperature,in particular, in the absence of a cooling medium.

[0027] When the cooling medium is used, the carrier material canadvantageously contain the binder group Mn+1AXn in the amount from 5% byvolume to 50% by volume. This content of the carrier material delayswear of the tool, whereby a polishing action of the tool is prevented.Polishing action takes place when the abrasive bodies do not projectsufficiently far beyond the carrier material, which substantiallyreduces the cutting output or power.

[0028] The novel features of the present invention, which are consideredas characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appendedclaims. The invention itself, however, both as to is construction andits mode of operation, together with additional advantages and objectsthereof, will be best understood from the following detailed descriptionof preferred embodiments, when read with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

[0029] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The drawings show:

[0031]FIG. 1 a perspective view of a cutting tool according to thepresent invention with a sleeve-shaped carrier body;

[0032]FIG. 2 a perspective view of a cutting tool according to thepresent invention with a bolt-shaped carrier body;

[0033]FIG. 3 a perspective view of a cutting tool according to thepresent invention with a disc-shaped carrier body; and

[0034]FIG. 4 a perspective view of a detail of a cutting surface of abreakdown tool according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0035] A cutting tool according to the present invention, which is shownin the drawings, has a cutting surface 4 having a plurality of abrasivebodies 1 embedded in a carrier material 2. The abrasive bodies areformed, e.g., of diamond particles embedded at least partially in thecarrier material 2 formed, in particular, of Ti₃SiC₂. The carriermaterial 2 connects the carrier body 3 with the abrasive bodies 1.

[0036] The geometry of the outer surface of the carrier body 3 isselected dependent from the field of the application of a cutting tool.In order to insure that the inventive cutting tool can be used with ahand-held power tool, preferably, the carrier body 3 is formed as arotationally symmetrical body.

[0037] A cutting tool according to the present invention, which is shownin FIG. 1, has a sleeve-shaped carrier body 3 and is formed, inparticular as an annular bit. At one of its longitudinal ends, thecarrier body 3 has a cutting surface 4. At its opposite end, the carrierbody 3 is provided with a connection element 5 extending along therotational axis of the carrier body 3. With the connection element 5,the cutting tool can be releasably secured in a chuck of a hand-heldpower tool (not shown). In the region of the cutting surface 4, thecarrier body 3 has, on its inner side 6, outer side 7, and end side 8,abrasive bodies 1 embedded into the carrier material 2.

[0038] A cutting tool according to the present invention, which is shownin FIG. 2, has a bolt-shaped carrier body 3, in particular, it is formedas a borer. The carrier body 3 of the cutting tool shown in FIG. 2, asthat of the cutting tool shown in FIG. 1, is provided, at its oppositeends, with a cutting surface 4 and a connection element 9. With theconnection element 9, the cutting tool can be realeasably secured in achuck of a hand-held power tool (not shown). I the region of the cuttingsurface 4, the carrier body 3 has, on its outer surface 11 and its endsurface 12, abrasive bodies 1 embedded in the carrier material 2.

[0039] A cutting tool according to the present invention, which is shownin FIG. 3, has a disc-shaped carrier body 3 formed, in particular, asseparation disc. The disc-shaped carrier body 3 has a central bore whichserves as a connection region 9. The cutting surface 4, preferably,extends along the entire periphery of the carrier body 3.

[0040]FIG. 4 shows, at an increased scale, a detail of the cuttingsurface 4 of the cutting tools shown in FIGS. 1-3.

[0041] Though the present invention was shown and described withreferences to the preferred embodiments, such are merely illustrative ofthe present invention and are not to be construed as a limitationthereof, and various modifications to the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, not intendedthat the present invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment ordetails thereof, and the present invention includes all of variousand/or alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tool for cutting solid materials, comprising acarrier material (2); and at least one abrasive body (1) embedded in thecarrier material, wherein the carrier material includes a binderselected from a group Mn+1AXn, where M is an element selected from agroup consisting of SC, Ti V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf and Ta; A is an elementselected from a group consisting of Al, Si, P, S, Ga, Ge, As, Cd, In,Sn, Tl and Pb; and X is an element selected from a group consisting of Cand N.
 2. A cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the carriermaterial is Ti₃ SiC₂.
 3. A cutting tool according to claim 1, furthercomprising a rotationally symmetrical carrier body (3), wherein thecarrier material (2) is at least partially applied to the carrier body.4. A cutting tool according to claim 3, wherein the carrier body isformed as a sleeve-shaped body.
 5. A cutting tool according to claim 3,wherein the carrier body is formed as a bolt-shaped body.
 6. A cuttingtool according to claim 3, wherein the carrier body is formed as adisc-shaped body.
 7. A cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the atleast one abrasive body is formed of a diamond.
 8. A cutting toolaccording to claim 1, wherein the carrier material (2) contains thebinder of the group Mn+1AXn from 50% by volume to 100% by volume.